Tempted: E30 M50 swap

So I am looking for a fun car that I can smash around the track. I found this one. Now I have owned an E30 before, but this one has an E36 engine swapped in. I like the idea. The stout, classic chassis of the E30 mated to a more modern powerplant. Thing is, I dont want to buy a money pit (not to big of one anyways :P)

This thing looks pretty much turn-key, ready to go. I think I can snag it for $3400. I went and checked it out and there is a fair amount of rust on the rear valence, but otherwise the car seemed pretty decent. I just wanted to post here and get some opinions.

You guys think its worth the money? Should I stay away? Thanks for the advice!

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/2269543?ad_cid=1

I've seen the e35 M3 engines swapped into e30s & they seemed to work pretty well.

I've been tracking an S50 swapped e30 for about 5 years. I've had minimal problems and lots of fun. Do your best to judge the quality of the swap and don't mess with it if it looks like corners were cut or done on a shoe string budget.

My S52 swapped E30 did a 2.07 around the Glen with a poorly set up suspension and 10 cycle Hoosiers. So, stupid fast and E36 M3loads of fun. (it wasn't exactly a stock E30 elsewhere either ;) )

It's a great idea... but at $3400 I'd be wary of the details. It's really easy to get south of a couple grand on the motor alone. If you are a confident engine/swapper/builder, no worries... but you wouldn't be asking if you were.

Tread carefully but if it's a good car - it will be a great track car.

Do an M52 at the least, S50/52 preferred. An M50 is only 20-30hp more than an M20.

The cost of swapping these engine, apart from the engine it's self, will be identical. Might as well get a little more while it's easy.

I recently purchased an older NASA GT2 E30 with a M50 conversion. I have yet to drive it at an event but it is getting close. The check list of things to update, fix and replace is getting shorter.

My observations of this combination are first, the oil pan is really exposed. They are found on the E34, are still readily available and cost $150ish with shipping. I already have one spare and will likely look to add a sump guard before I spend any serious time tracking the car. The first events will be local autocross weekends to work out the kinks.

Next are the rim/tire limits. With stock fenders. My car ran Toyo RA1 225/45/15 tires on 15X7 rims on a suspension system built around coil over Bilstein's. I am still working with what tires I will eventually use at a track but I am starting on a set of Toyo RA1 205/50/15's. Locally there is an E30 with a S54 on 15X10's running hoosiers, the required flares are not going to happen in my car. Only having 180ish horse power is going to save me all kinds of money and grief.

I hope.

Lord, 2:07 around the Glen is fast in anything that old. Nice work, man. I heard on the Dork that GT3 Cup qualifying lap times are 1:55-ish.

It's about a 2,500#-ish car with about 190-ish HP at the crank, a great-handling chassis, and wide aftermarket support and knowledge. This is my definition of a blast to drive at the track. The M50/M52 is a common swap into these (and E21s).

Around here, I couldn't get a cleanish E30 chassis and decent M50 driveline for that money, so around here, it would be a deal.

The M50B25TU is a much smoother, quieter motor than the M20B25 that comes in the stock E30 325i. Power difference isn't that much, but we're talking about a light car, so a little goes a fair way.

With M50B25TUs, my concerns are

(1) did an E36 it was previously in lose the radiator and burn the head gasket. That's what happened to the one sitting in my driveway right now awaiting a motor swap. Opinions vary, but many people (me included) think it's easier to swap the motor than do the head gasket/machine shop route on this motor. Look for oil droplets in the coolant, and coolant foam in the oil.

(2) Will the VANOS crap out, requiring a VANOS rebuild. That's always a possibility, but a shop will usually do it for less than a grand. If you're handy (and why wouldn't you be . . . you're here) then a trip to Dr. VANOS will usually get the car fixed for less than $200 in parts. Listen for a rattling sound - there are youtube video examples available.

Jamey,

If I could save you some trouble - for a track-only car, to hell with the VANOS. With good gearing you will never be under 3500 RPMs if you are doing it right. Lock the cams full advanced and ditch it. Use an OBD-I intake and tune for top end. If you can afford to - get some schricks, solid lifters, heavier valve springs and spin that sucker! It makes power all the way until it explodes ;)

Also, if the head is good (no cracks) - a decent decking, valve job and new seals is ~$450 at a machine shop. The whole job costs around $750-800 by the time you are done with new bolts and a full gasket kit. It is not a difficult job. It is easier to pull the motor for the job (especially in a track car with rad support cut and less hoses) but... not necessary at all. It's 2-3hrs to get it off, 2-3 hours to get it back on. Definitely not cheaper to swap a fresh motor in unless you are buying junkyard M50s. A junkyard S52 goes 2k+ and still needs a bit of stuff (pan baffles, oil pump nut, etc). If you have an M50, I'd upgrade to an S52 but if you have an S52... fix it.

Thanks GPS - that's welcome advice and very helpful. Minimum 3500 RPM is totally consistent with my track driving style (sad as my skills may be none the less).

Who do you use for BMW head/machine work around here? My guy is good, but he's (a) in Dulles which isn't that convenient and (b) is a Chevy guy and reluctant to mess with old BMW stuff.

Yeah I have been a junkyard motor guy in the past, but it's a habit I'm planning to break. I already have something else in mind for the E36 chassis, but the M50 might make a good backup motor.

For a track car, this a slippery slope. Now it's faster than the stock 325is, so what to do about brakes? Stiffen up/reinforce chassis, gearing, cooling, etc. I have a friend with a E30 M3 track car which has no original design parts in its suspension, brakes or drivetrain.

Just get a E36 M3, a '95 is my personal preference. Better chassis, brakes and drivetrain.